By Fawaz Balogun

A Professor of Mathematics Education and Educational Evaluation at the Institute of Education, Joshua Oluwatoyin Adeleke, has stated that poor academic performance, inequality, and educational failure are not immutable destinies but challenges that can be diagnosed and addressed.

He made this assertion while delivering the 612th inaugural lecture of University of Ibadan on behalf of the Institute of Education.

Speaking at the lecture, Professor Adeleke emphasised that effective teaching must be grounded in valid evaluation, supported by appropriate cognitive preparation, and guided by credible data to drive meaningful educational outcomes.

He described Mathematics Education and Educational Evaluation as critical instruments for promoting hope, justice, and societal transformation.

“Mathematics equips individuals with structured reasoning, problem-solving capacity, and intellectual resilience, while Educational Evaluation provides the empirical compass that guides systems towards equity, equality, and accountability,” he said.

According to him, Mathematics Education fosters disciplined inquiry, while Educational Evaluation ensures that such inquiry is purposeful, fair, and impactful.

He added that when both fields are effectively integrated, education transcends rote instruction and becomes a transformative social enterprise capable of building resilient learners, empowered educators, and accountable institutions.

Professor Adeleke further noted that Nigeria, Africa, and the global community continue to face complex educational challenges, stressing that societies ultimately rise or fall based on the strength of their educational systems and evaluation frameworks.

He advocated sustained investment in rigorous research, ethical assessment practices, innovative pedagogy, and capacity building as pathways to reposition education as a tool for national and societal development.

The professor also recommended expanding monitoring and evaluation beyond formal schooling, institutionalising diagnostic and formative assessment practices, and leveraging digital tools for teaching and evaluation.

Source: UI Directorate of Public Communication